Dispenser with automatic cut-off



Nov. 18, 1958 P. L. ODONNELL 2,860,703

DISPENSER WITH AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF Filed June 20, 1956- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. PHIL/P L. ODONNELL BY AHJS.

Nov. 18, 1958 P. L. ODONNELL 2,350,703

DISPENSER WITH AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1956 ']{\/VENTOR. PHIL/P L. ODONNELL Atigs.

United States Patent DISPENSER WITH AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF Philip L. ODonnell, Norwood, Ohio Application June 20, 1956, Serial No. 592,602

1 Claim. (Cl. 164-42) This invention relates to tape dispensers and particularly to automatic tape cut-off devices therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a dispenser having cut-off means for severing a length of tape dispensed from a stock thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character for advancing and receiving tape from stock by manipulation of a single lever.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tape dispenser adapted to dispense and sever from stock a wide variety of film, cloth felt, laminated reinforced and impregnated tapes of various kinds and thicknesses.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character adapted to dispense tape segments having cleanly cut ends.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character in which tape does not jam as a result of sticking or adhesion (of tape to be dispensed) to shear blades or fixed portions of the device contiguous to and contactable by tape incident to dispensing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character having a single operating lever which serves to advance tape from a supply and to control operation of the severing mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tape dispenser having a fixed blade mounted transversely of, spaced from, and parallel to a major face of a tape advancing along the tape dispensing path, a pivoted blade adapted to move said tape against the fixed blade with which it co-operates in shearing said tape, said movable blade being connected to suitable actuating linkage, said linkage being connected to means adapted to impart forces which serve to actuate the movable blade to co-operating relation with the fixed blade, the dispenser having a lever for advancing tape along the tape path past the fixed blade and control means for the means adapted to produce forces, said control means being operatable by manipulation of said lever whereby a tape segment projecting beyondthe fixed blade may be cut off.

The above and other objects and features of thisinvention will in part be apparent and and will in part be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a dispenser embodying a form 'of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, taken along the line IIII in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental view in section taken along the lineIlI-III in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental view in section taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 of the drawing, portions of a dispenser 5 of conventional construction, are shown in dot-dash lines. Such dispensers conventionally comprise a body-shell, or frame 6, which serves as a retaining receptacle for a 2,860,703 Patented Nov. 18, 1958 stock of dispensable tape 7 and as a support for various parts of the device. Dispensable, pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is usually packaged in roll form often on a spool or core. In dispenser 5 a bar or shaft (not shown) is usually provided, upon which a roll or spool of tape may be mounted for free turning incident to withdrawal of tape 7 therefrom. To effect withdrawal of tape 7 from a roll or spool, it is usual to provide a lever 8 secured to shaft 8, which, through suitable clutch and power transmission mechanism, (not shown), for example, a gear train, the tape advancing mechanism may be actuated to effect unidirectional advance of tape 7 along the tape dispensing path when lever 8 is moved in. the direction of arrow C, Fig. 2. 1n the device shown in Fig. 2, a pair of rotatable tape-engaging rolls 9 and 10 are provided supported on frame 6. Each of the rolls comprises a plurality of spaced, disc-like elements preferably having conventional peripheral protuberances similar to gear teeth which co-operate with the tape in a most satisfactory manner. The spaced disc-like elements of each roll project into the spaces provided between adjacent elements of the adjacent roll to provide a co-operating structure which might be described as overlapping rolls indicated in dot-dash lines in Pig. 2. The tape 7 is drawn from the stock roll or spool into engagement with roll 9 and then stripped from roll 9 by roll 10 which it then engages. A comb-edged stripper or deflector plate 11 is provided to strip tape 7 from roll 16. Plate 11 is mounted with the tooth-like projections 12 thereof extending between adjacent disc elements of roll 1t each disc element substantially filling the space between two adjacent teeth 12 of the plate 11. Stripper plate 11 deflects tape 7 from roll 10 to port 15. A co-operating guide plate 60 may be provided adjacent port 15 opposite plate 11.

A plate or bracket 13, mounted in fixed position upon frame 6 by fastening means such as screws 14, has a port 15 in registry with the path of tape advance from stripper plate 11.

Shear blade 16 is mounted upon plate 13 by means of alignment pins or rivets 17 and stop pin 18. As is shown most clearly in Fig. 1, a portion of shear blade 16 overhangs port 15. Cutting edge 19 of blade 16 is thus positioned to engage tape 7 and prevent its engagement with edge 20 of plate 13. In the device shown in the drawings, blade 16 has a substantially planar flat outward face 21, facing away from plate 13. An abutment face 22 is provided on the opposite side of blade 16 and extends from the end of blade 16 adjacent pins 17 toward the other end 24 and terminates at a point intermediate end 24 and screw post 23. The abutment face 22 is parallel to face 21 and when the abutment face 2?. is held in firm, flatwise face-to-face engagement with the major face of plate 13, the cutting edge of blade 16 extends substantially parallel to plate 13. A guide plate 25 is mounted in fixed relation to plate 13 on the opposite side of spacer or shim plate 26 by means such as screws or rivets 27. Edge face 28 of spacer plate 26 is substantially parallel and coplanar with flat face 29 of plate 13, while guide lip 30 of plate 25 is disposed adjacent and projecting from the plane of edges 28 and 29 toward pin 18. Thus the guide lip 30 overhangs port 15 and extends substantially parallel to cutting edge 19 of blade 16. As illustrated most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, guide lip 30 is rounded and smoothly finished in order to minimize the tendency of tape 7 to adhere thereto. The face of tape 7 which contacts rolls 9, 10, stripper 11 and guide lip 30, is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating.

A movable shear blade 31 has a root or shank portion 32 through which screw post 23 extends to clamp blade 31 in substantially parallel co-operative relation to blade 16.

Blade 31 has a cutting edge 33 and a crank arm extension 34 extending at substantially a right angle away from cutting edge 33 to swing blade 31 about the pivot provided in the form of screw post 23. A connecting rod 35 is pivotally secured to crank arm 34 adjacent its outer end remote from cutting edge 33. As shown, the connecting rod 35 may be adjustable in length. The rod 35, shown in the drawing, comprises a head 36, which is pivotally secured to crank arm 34 by pivot pin or bolt 37. Head 36 is secured to the rod body 38 by means such as cooperating threads with which the two elements are provided. A second and similar head 38a is secured to the other end of rod body 38. Engagement betweenthe second head element and the rod body 38 may be by any suitable means such as threads, welds, or the like. The second head 38a is pivotally secured by pin or bolt 42 to the yoke 39 which is integrally formed with the armature 40 of solenoid 41. The connecting pins 37 and 42 extend in parallel relation to each other and prevent turning of the connecting rod heads 36 relative to each other. If the rod body 38 is secured in non-rotating relation to one of the heads 38a or is appropriately threaded and is in threaded engagement with the other head 36, removal of either of the pins 37 or 42 permits rotation of one or both of the heads relative to the rod body 38, which rotation, by reason of the threaded engagement of at least one of the heads to the body 38, effects elongation or shortening of the effective length of the connecting rod 35. Replacement of the pin 37 or 42, removed prior to adjustment, in engagement with the co-perating parts, will prevent alteration in the effective length of the connecting rod 35, so elfected. As shown in Fig. 1, the solenoid 41 is preferably of the draw or pull type which tends to draw the armature 40 into the coil element 43 when electrical energy is passed through the coil. As armature 40 is advanced into coil 43, that is, moved in the direction of arrow M, clockwise movement of shear blade 31 about pivot screw post 23, as illustrated in Fig. 1, results in producing cooperative shearing action of cutting edges 19 and 33 to effectively shear off any portion of tape 7 projecting beyond blade 16.

Incident to the shearing of tape 7 by movement of blade 31 in co-operative relation to blade 16, it may be noted that tape 7 is lifted by blade 31, from engagement with guide lip 30, until non-adhesive face 73 is in abutment with blade 16 which supports tape 7 during shearing thereof. 16 when shearing is complete, but is free to settle toward lip 30 and may be easily advanced through port without jamming.

Solenoid 41 has its coil connected in an electric circuit in which safety switch 44, control switch 45, and a source of electrical energy (not shown) are also included. The wires or other conductors connecting the various elements above mentioned in the circuit have not been shown in the drawings as the wires and their method of connection to the elements mentioned, would be conventional. Switches 44 and 45 are connected in series between the coil of solenoid 41 and the source of electrical energy. Switch 44 may be of any suitable type, but, as shown in the drawings, is a panel type, single pole toggle switch mounted upon a projecting flange or bracket 46 secured to dispenser 5, or in any other convenient position. The purpose of switch 44 is to permit opening of the circuit, thereby precluding accidental operation of the cut-oif device.

The dispenser 5 has a stop adapted to limit movement of lever 8. The stop comprises a bracket portion 46 in which a resilient pad 47 is mounted and engageable by lever 8. Pad 47 may be of rubber or other rubberlike resilient material. An arm, such as metal plate 48, may be secured in fixed relation to stop bracket 46 by fastening means such as screws 49. Plate 48 has an aperture adapted to facilitate mounting of control switch Thus tape 7 does not adhere to blade 45 thereon. Control switch 45 illustrated the drawing, of panel mounting type, has an abutment flange 50, a threaded neck portion 51 with which nut 52 may be co-operatively engaged. Neck portion 51 extends through the aperture provided in plate 48 and in threaded engagement with nut 52. Flange 50 and nut 52 abut opposite faces of plate 48 and secure switch 45 in fixed relation thereto. Switch 45 is provided with an actuating plunger 53 and is preferably of the normally open type. Switch 45 may be of any one of several types of normally open switches; however, I prefer to use the micro switch which closes and opens inresponse to small axial movement of the actuating plunger 53. As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, switch 45 is mounted in a position adjacent the plane in which lever 8 swings. Switch contacting member 54 is supported by bracket '55 secured to lever 8 by any suitable means, such as Welds, screws, rivets, or the like. As illustrated, member 54 may be secured in fixed relation to bracket 55 by means such as set screw 56. The use of means such as set screw 56 permits adjustment ofthe position of member 54 relative to lever 8, which adjustment, in turn, alters the sensitivity and the timing of the closing ofswitch 45.

In dispenser'S, lever 8 is spring biased to return to the position D, shown in Fig. 2, in which it engages stop pad 47. Thus, if an operator releases handle or lever 8 in.position B, the lever is spring propelled toward pad 47 and will move a small distance toward E beyond the position shown in full in Fig. 2 in which it will eventually come to rest. This over-shooting partially compresses pad 47. Member 54 is so positioned relative to lever 8, that switch 45 is closed for a short period of time during this over-shooting, but reopens when lever 8 comes to rest in position D. This closing of switch 45, when switch 44 is also closed, energizes solenoid 41, effecting severance of the portion of tape 7 projecting beyond blade 16.

When control switch 45 opens, forces tending to rotate blade 31 about its pivot, screw post 23, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, are terminated, and the blade 31 tends to swing under force of gravity in a counter-clockwise direction. Blade 31 may then drop under force of gravity, or, as I prefer, under forces imposed by suitable means, such as a spring (not shown). The spring may be incorporated in the structure of solenoid 41, or anchored to dispenser 5 and with its free end suitably attached to the blade 31 or the mechanical linkage by means of which it is moved. Thus, in use, a dispenser of the character disclosed may be operated in the following fashion. The operator grasps lever 8 with one hand and swings it in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2, toward the position such as B, a sufficient distance to effect advance of a portion of tape 7 past the plane 21 of blade 16. If one stroke of lever 8 advances an insufficient amount of tape past the plane of face 21 projected, lever 8 may be moved toward or to position D and advanced in the direction C a suflicient number of additional strokes or partial strokes to efiect advance of the desired length of tape beyond the indicated plane. This operation being a one-hand operation, the other hand of the operator is free to grasp the free end of the tape at a safe distance from the shearing blades and after the desired increment of tape is advanced beyond the cut-01f station, lever 8 may be released from a position to the left of position D (as shown in Fig. 2), to swingin a clockwise direction beyond position D under impetus supplied by springs, or the lever 8 may be moved by hand in a similar fashion to effect closing of control switch'45. The closing of control switch 45 results in quick, clean severance of the projecting portion of the tape from the remainder of the tape which has not been advanced'past the plane of face 21 projected. The portion cut'freemay adhere to edge face 58' of blade 31 which firmly engagesthe adhesivecoated face of the tape during the severance. The operator may easily lift or peel the severed tape portion from this position of attachment to blade 31. This is particularly convenient when small pieces of tape are dispensed and severed from stock. When dispensing longer pieces of tape, the operator may place the tape 7 under tension by grasping the free end thereof with the hand which is not used to operate lever 8. Such application of tension often reduces the tendency of the severed segment of tape to stick to edge face 58 to levels at which it is virtually unnoticed, particularly when blade 31 is rapidly returned to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1.

Having described the invention, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, that various modifications and changes may be made in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.

Therefore, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

A tape dispenser for cut and tear resistant, pressure sensitive adhesive tape comprising a frame, means for supporting a supply of dispensable tape thereon, at least one tape feed roll adapted to cooperate with the adhesive face of said tape, a lever pivotally mounted upon said frame, means connecting said lever to said feed roll to effect correlated movement thereof at least when said lever is moved in one direction to advance tape, a stripper mounted on said frame for disengaging tape from said feed roll, said stripper being driven at a speed related to the speed of the feed roll to strip the tape therefrom, a fixed blade supported on said frame transversely of and adjacent to the path of tape advanced from said stripper, a second blade mounted in cooperative relation to the first blade adjacent one side thereof and being adapted to engage the adhesive face of the tape to lift the tape into engagement with the fixed blade, said second blade having its cutting edge adjacent the cutting edge of the first blade, a solenoid having a reciprocable armature, linkage comprising at least one link, said linkage being pivotally joined to and connecting the solenoid armature and the second blade, a control switch for said solenoid mounted on said frame and actuatable by said feed lever adjacent one end of the path thereof, means biasing the cutting edge of said second blade toward non-parallel relation to the cutting edge of said first blade in the common shearing plane whereby the feed lever may be actuated to advance tape past the first blade and then swung to actuate the control switch to effect energization of the solenoid to swing the second blade toward the first blade to shear off the projecting portion of cut and tear resistant tape.-

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,364,844 Mortimer Jan. 4, 1921 1,972,071 Adell Sept. 4, 1934 2,260,489 Sim Oct. 28, 1941 2,285,507 Gilliam June 9, 1942 2,573,911 Krueger Nov. 6, 1951 2,589,347 De Marath Mar. 18, 1952 2,623,588 Fritzinger Dec. 30, 1952 2,657,926 Price et al. Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 694,461 Great Britain July 22, 1953 

